As multiple City Council members head to Washington, D.C. to talk to lawmakers about the influx of asylum seekers, officials are still navigating the best housing options for migrants. New York City has continued to shelter and support more than 72,000 migrants across the boroughs.
On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new partnership with houses of worship that will help provide resources. That partnership was made possible by New York Disaster Interfaith Services. Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other faith-based organizations in all five boroughs will provide beds for close to 1,000 single adult men.
Each site will offer support and overnight shelter to up to 19 asylum seekers at a time, and will cost the city about $125 a night per person.
The mayor also said this faith-based shelter program is cheaper than emergency hotels. Mayor Adams says the next step is to move some asylum seekers to a private home, but that plan isn't final since officials will have to subsidize families and landlords to help ease the strain on city shelters.
The city has already spent more than $1.2 billion on the crisis this fiscal year alone. Mayor Adams adds the city is projected to spend more than $4.3 billion by the end of June next year.
The city comptroller is to make an announcement today regarding asylum seekers in New York City.